M A I N   N E W S

Sonia launches health scheme for women
Drinking water supply scheme also dedicated to 110 villages
Sunit Dhawan /TNS

Mandi Khera (Mewat), June 1
With a view to providing all required healthcare facilities to pregnant women and infants free of cost, UPA and National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched an ambitious scheme, Rashtriya Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram here today.

Patterned on the Janani Suraksha Yojana already operational in Haryana, the scheme has been adopted for the entire country under the National Rural Health Mission.

Under the programme, all pregnant women are entitled to deliveries, including the required treatment, pick-and-drop facility, health check-up and tests, medicines and blood at government hospitals free of cost. The infants requiring treatment and medicines, etc, will also be provided these free of cost.

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Central Government would spend Rs 1,100 crore per month on the programme.

Sonia also dedicated Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Supply Scheme to 110 villages in the district. She said it was a matter of concern that despite all facilities and efforts, nearly 9 lakh infants died within the first month of their birth; and 67,000 pregnant women died during labour.

She expressed the hope that all states would implement the Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram sincerely.

Hooda announced several development schemes for the people of Mewat, including a women’s college at Salaheri village, upgradation of the existing 50-bed hospital at Mandi Khera to 100-bed hospital and construction of the Nagina-Tizara road, which would connect the district to Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.